1
as in stadiums
a large usually roofless building for sporting events with tiers of seats for spectators
the Roman circus is believed to have held 50,000 spectators in ancient times
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in madhouses
a place of uproar or confusion
with seven kids in the house, it's a circus most of the time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pageants
an elaborate, visually exciting show or event
the media circus that took place outside the courthouse every day of the murder trial
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of circuses
Indeed, some of our oligarchs actually own the circuses.
—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
21 June 2026
Exotic animals were not typically a feature of carnivals; circuses, yes, but not carnivals.
—
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
In terms of performances and safety, the Triton Troupers Circus is like other circuses.
—
Myrna Petlicki,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Signs discussing the use of Blackface and Minstrel music in traveling circuses were submitted.
—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
11 Mar. 2026
The stark reality Stark toured with circuses until the late 1940s, when she was hired by Jungleland, a zoo located outside of Los Angeles.
—
Alessandro Meregaglia,
The Conversation,
3 Mar. 2026
The idea of a 10% rate cap has all the seriousness of bread-and-circuses governance.
—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Coaches don’t like media circuses, but Jones can’t wean himself off the attention.
—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Dec. 2025
Other nominees included the Swiss yodelling, the handloom weaving technique used to make Bangladesh’s Tangail sarees, and Chile’s family circuses.
—
Paolo Santalucia,
Fortune,
15 Dec. 2025
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
21 June 2026
Exotic animals were not typically a feature of carnivals; circuses, yes, but not carnivals.
—
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
In terms of performances and safety, the Triton Troupers Circus is like other circuses.
—
Myrna Petlicki,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Signs discussing the use of Blackface and Minstrel music in traveling circuses were submitted.
—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
11 Mar. 2026
The stark reality Stark toured with circuses until the late 1940s, when she was hired by Jungleland, a zoo located outside of Los Angeles.
—
Alessandro Meregaglia,
The Conversation,
3 Mar. 2026
The idea of a 10% rate cap has all the seriousness of bread-and-circuses governance.
—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Coaches don’t like media circuses, but Jones can’t wean himself off the attention.
—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Dec. 2025
Other nominees included the Swiss yodelling, the handloom weaving technique used to make Bangladesh’s Tangail sarees, and Chile’s family circuses.
—
Paolo Santalucia,
Fortune,
15 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circuses
Noun
-
These include the people welcoming attendees into stadiums, VIP lounge chefs, waiters and the flagbearers during the opening ceremony.
-
For homeowners near host stadiums, the tournament has turned spare bedrooms and second homes into prime real estate.
Noun
-
Her daughters Charli, 6, and Lacie Lou, 4, have been competing in pageants since a very young age, with Charli making her stage debut at just 8 months old.
-
Immersive museums, covered wagon campgrounds, pageants, and hands-on historical sites breathe life into Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books and make her characters come alive.
Noun
-
On the road, ordinary gyms suddenly felt like coliseums.
Noun
-
Andrew Raftery Two forceful exhibitions have shown how Indian artists and presses met the cultural upheaval of the nineteenth century with lithographic prints that rendered Hindu gods more approachable and helped to galvanize national identity.
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Alongside his acting career, Baker had, by the 1970s, established himself as a painter and sculpture with exhibitions in prominent galleries in Los Angeles, New York, and New England.
Noun
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Meanwhile, companies and government agencies like YouTube, Harley-Davidson, Meta and NASA will also have exhibits at the fair.
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With more than 50 exhibits in the show, it’s bound to be a far-out adventure.
Noun
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Beyond manufacturing, The Yard includes a design studio, a bespoke consultation room for custom frame commissions, a training academy for opticians and makers, and a growing archive of historic spectacles spanning more than two centuries.
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According to Blair, originality, practical filmmaking and emerging voices matter more than franchises and giant visual effects spectacles.
Noun
-
Then-Mayor John Lindsay had cut down on ticker-tape extravaganzas for financial and other reasons.
-
Production’s involvement in paying for cast extravaganzas is something Monique brought up in a confessional interview during season 10.
Noun
-
The patriotic spectaculars are part of the team’s celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.
-
Pyrotechnic spectaculars thrill us with movement, surprise, poignant impermanence — and those qualities distinguish dance, as well.
Cite this Entry
“Circuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circuses. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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